Search

Collected papers documenting the role of Michigan in World War I, including the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1919, the "Polar Bear Expedition."

The collection includes diary (1918-1919) of Henry Ahrens, 330th Field Artillery; scrapbook (1916-1936) of Ernest Kaser, 126th and 128th Infantry; papers of Thomas J. McCarthy, 339th Infantry, chiefly relating to disability and insurance; papers of Carl G. Olson, 337th Infantry, including a letter received from relatives; papers of Jesse H. Stage, 160th Depot Brigade, Camp Custer, including letters received from relatives; pamphlets from the YMCA, Red Cross and other publishers; ration cards, artifacts, and photographs.

Photographs and postcards of Camp Custer, Mich.; group photos of members of 32nd Division in the Army of Occupation in Germany, 1919; 160th Depot Brigade, Camp Custer; oversize group portraits of members of 41st Machine Gun Battalion; 107th Supply Battalion; 214th Field Signal Battalion; 330th Field Artillery; Company B, 337th Infantry; 339th Infantry; 2nd Company, Officers' Training School, Camp Custer; and survivors of the troop ship Tuscania; portraits of members of 339th and 340th Infantry; photos of 126th and 128th Infantry in scrapbook of Ernest Kaser; postcard of military parade in Flint, Mich.; 330th Field Artillery pennant.

Papers of a Y.M.C.A. volunteer depicting events following the 1917 October Revolution in Russia, POW camps in Germany, and relief work among Russian refugees in 1920-1924.

Correspondence of Howard Merrill and some of his wife Edith Merrill with relatives in the United States while stationed and traveling in Russia, Poland, Germany, Latvia, Estonia, Sweden, and --to a lesser extent-- Japan describing social, economic and political conditions, everyday life, and work of the Y.M.C.A. offices and volunteers in these countries. Merrill travelled and wrote about locations in Siberia, Moscow, Petrograd, Pskov, Archangel, Nizhnii Novgorod, Samara, Riga, among other locations.

Correspondence and Y.M.C.A. reports from Germany contain depiction of conditions in German prisoner-of-war camps and Russian prisoners. Russian-language handwritten publications of Russian POWs include playbills and illustrated newsletters.

Papers of Donald A. Lowrie, Y.M.C.A. secretary who served in Russian and Eastern Europe between 1916 and 1932 include his 1920 "Moscow diary" and miscellaneous writings on the subject of Russian prisoners of war.

Papers of a soldier in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition."

Photograph of John W. Ferguson, a soldier in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, riding a horse in Russia, possibly in Murmansk.

Scanned copy of photograph of Martin Rasmussen, who served in Headquarters Company, 339th U.S. Infantry, during the American intervention in North Russia, the "Polar Bear Expedition."

This collection contains digital reproductions; the original papers and/or photographs are owned by the donor. The digital items in this collection were digitized from originals by the individual donors before being received by the Bentley Historical Library. Preservation copies of these files with their original file names and CD-ROM file structures intact have been submitted to Deep Blue. Access copies of these digital files can be viewed by clicking on the links next to the individual folders in the Content List below.

In this finding aid, the files have been arranged into one series, Photographs. The original file in this collection is in BMP format, a jpeg copy has been made for web access.

The collection consists a sinngle digitized photograph of Rasmussen, who served Headquarters Company, 339th Infantry, in uniform, ca. 1918.

Soldier from Bay City, Mich. who served in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition." Collection includes reminiscences and photograph album.

Typescript of a short account of his service in northern Russia, from leaving Camp Custer, July 1918, to his return to the United States, July 1919. The original is owned by Sarah Bonnell, Bay City. The papers also include a post card and a poem "Ode to the Shackleton Boot."

The collection includes an album (1918-1919, ca. 250 photographs) containing scenes of building construction, buildings and fortifications constructed by the 310th Engineers, views of Archangel and other places, pictures of Russian people, scenes of American soldiers in camp and on guard, and portraits of officers of the 310th Engineers; also a group photograph of Co. A, 310th Engineers.

Papers of a soldier with the 339th Infantry in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition."

This collection is divided into three series, Papers, Visual Materials, and Memorabilia.

The Papers Series includes five letters Andrews wrote to family with detailed descriptions of northern Russia and of his thoughts and activities; a notebook containing dates of arrivals and departures, briefly noting place and activity; a postcard written by Andrews dated June 20, 1919 and memorabilia.

The Visual Materials series includes a portrait of Andrews in uniform and at veterans activities. Of the ten photographs in this series, the only dated photograph is the portrait of Andrews in uniform which is dated 1919-1920.

The Memorabilia series includes Andrew's military identification tag, an undated Military Patch, Speak French: A Book for the Soldiers, 1917, and a wallet which includes Andrews' American Legion membership card, 1930-1932; Boy Scouts of America adult member certification, 1933; Knights of Pythias membership dues official receipt, 1928, 1930; and La Société des Quarante Hommes at Huit Chevaux membership card, 1931.

Scanned copy of photographs of Frank P. Trimberger, who served as a private in Company B, 310th Engineers, during the American intervention at Archangel, Russia, the "Polar Bear Expedition."

The Trimberger collection consists of a digitized portrait photo of Trimberger, in uniform, and a group photo of Trimberger and other soldiers in barracks, ca. 1918-1919.

This collection contains digital reproductions; the original papers and/or photographs are owned by the donor. The digital items in this collection were digitized from originals by the individual donors before being received by the Bentley Historical Library. Preservation copies of these files with their original file names and CD-ROM file structures intact have been submitted to Deep Blue. Access copies of these digital files can be viewed by clicking on the links next to the individual folders in the Content List below.

In this finding aid, the files have been arranged into one series, Photographs. Within the series, files are listed numerically according to the file arrangement they were given by the donor. The files in this collection are in JPG format.

Member of Co. K, 339th U.S. Infantry who served in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition." Collection includes citation from French government for bravery in combat in 1918; and photographs.

A photocopy of a citation for bravery from the French government and photographs taken at the ceremonies at White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery during which the bodies of American soldiers returned from Russia were reinterred.

Born in St. Louis, Mo., member of Company D, U.S. 339th Infantry who served in the Allied intervention in Russia, 1918-1920, the "Polar Bear Expedition."

Portrait, group photo of 339th Infantry, and photo of his grave marker.

Scrapbook of World War I-era photographs and post-war personal activities, includes snapshots from Polar Bear expedition to northern Russia after World War I; also photos of post-World War I military groups and activities.